Then the Exalted one, taking up a little dust on the tip of his finger-nail, addressed the monks, saying:

“Now what think ye, monks? Which is the greater: this little dust I have taken up on the top of my finger nail, or this mighty earth?”

“Why, lord, this mighty earth is the greater. Exceedingly small is this little dust taken up on the Exalted One’s finger-nail. It cannot be reckoned, cannot be compared therewith. It does not amount to the merest fraction of a part when laid beside this mighty earth, -this little dust taken up on the Exalted One’s finger-nail.”

“Just so, monks, few indeed are those beings that, deceasing as human beings, are reborn among human beings: more numerous are these beings that, deceasing as human beings, are reborn in Purgatory (hell)…

(ii)

…more numerous are these beings that, deceasing as human beings, are reborn in the womb of an animal.

(iii)

…that are reborn in the Realm of Ghosts…

(iv-vi)

…few are those beings that, deceasing as human beings, are reborn among the Devas (Gods): more numerous are these beings that, deceasing as human beings, are reborn in purgatory (hell)…in the womb of an animal…in the Realm of Ghosts…

(vii-ix)

…few are those beings that, deceasing as Devas (Gods), are reborn among the Devas (Gods): more numerous are these beings that, deceasing as Devas (Gods), are reborn in Purgatory (hell)…in the womb of an animal…In the realm of Ghosts…

(x-xii)

That, deceasing as Devas (Gods), are reborn among men: more numerous are these beings that, deceasing as Devas (Gods), are reborn in Purgatory…the Realm of Ghosts…

(xiii-xv)

…that deceasing from Purgatory (hell), are reborn among human beings: more numerous are these beings that, deceasing from Purgatory (hell), are reborn in Purgatory (hell)…the Realm of Ghosts…

(xvi-xviii)

…that, deceasing from Purgatory (hell), are reborn among the Devas: more numerous are these beings that, deceasing as Devas (Gods), are reborn in Purgatory…the Realm of Ghosts…

(xix-xxi)

…that, deceasing from life as animals, are reborn among human beings: more numerous are these beings that, deceasing as animals, are reborn in Purgatory (hell)…the Realm of Ghosts…

(xxii-xxiv)

…that, deceasing as animals, are reborn among the Devas (Gods), more numerous are these beings that, deceasing as animals, are reborn in Purgatory (hell)…

(xxv-xxvii)

…that, deceasing from the Realm of Ghosts, are reborn among human beings: more numerous are these beings that, deceasing from the Realm of Ghosts, are reborn in Purgatory (hell)…in the womb of an animal…in the Realm of Ghosts

(xxviii)

…that, deceasing from the Realm of Ghosts, are reborn among the Devas (Gods): more numerous are these beings that, deceasing from the Realm of Ghosts are reborn in the womb of an animal.

(xxx)

Just so, monks, few indeed are those beings that, deceasing from the Realm of Ghosts, are reborn among the Devas (Gods): more numerous are these beings that, deceasing from the Realm of Ghosts, are reborn in the Realm of Ghosts.

What is the cause of that?

It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths ( Four Noble Truths). What four? The Ariyan truth of Ill: the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill: the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.

Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize: This is Ill. This is the arising of Ill. This is the ceasing of Ill. This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.”

Thus spoke the Exalted One. And those monks were pleased with what was said by the Exalted One and took delight therin.